The Los Angeles Dodgers shut out the Colorado Rockies, 4-0, to win their second consecutive series and conclude a short three-game homestand.
Mookie Betts started off the Dodgers on offense in the first inning, and they never looked back. The Dodgers’ shortstop hit his fourth leadoff homer off the season, and 52nd of his career.
He ranks fifth all-time in career leadoff homers, but he’s moving up that list rapidly, trailing Alfonso Soriano (54) and Craig Biggio (53) for the third and fourth spots, and George Springer (57) for the second spot.
Rickey Henderson’s 81 career leadoff home runs are the most all-time, so Betts has a long way to go to catch the Hall of Famer.
Mookie puts the #Dodgers up!
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/wubPYL8QoL— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) June 2, 2024
Safe to say Freddie Freeman is back?
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/Kj9X9uq0Sk— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) June 2, 2024
Name a player other than Miggy Ro that you'd rather have up with RISP. You can't.
(🎥: @ChadMoriyama) pic.twitter.com/7jKmTnWwFi— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) June 2, 2024
Freddie Freeman then hit his seventh home run of the season to give the Dodgers a two-run lead in the first inning. Freeman has been struggling against left-handed pitching this season, and the homer came against a southpaw, which was encouraging to see.
Freeman started the third inning with a walk, and he promptly stole second. That set the table for Miguel Rojas, who continued to swing a hot bat with an RBI single.
That was all the offense the Dodgers could muster until the eighth, when Jason Heyward and Austin Barnes started the inning with a pair of singles. After Shohei Ohtani was intentionally walked to load the bases, Freeman hit a sac fly to make it a four-run game heading into the ninth.
Dodgers pitching shines in win
Gavin Stone made the start and turned in another fantastic outing, throwing five shutout innings with just four hits allowed, two walks and six strikeouts.
He left the game after throwing 75 pitches because he was starting on four days rest for the first time this season, so Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wanted to be cautious, and had a full bullpen as well before an off day.
Michael Grove worked the sixth and seventh inning, allowing no hits and one walk with two strikeouts. Alex Vesia pitched a perfect eighth inning with two strikeouts, and Daniel Hudson shut the door, allowing one hit and striking out one.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
